There was little concrete coming out of the first round of bargaining
The first round of NAFTA renegotiations has produced a guarded statement from the three countries and a swirl of rumours about what was discussed and what might emerge in the coming weeks. Held in Washington in mid-August, the meetings saw trade representatives from Canada, Mexico and the U.S. reopen the trade pact for the first […] Read more
The U.S. has a healthy trade surplus with Canada for eggs and poultry
Dairy may be getting all the attention in the upcoming NAFTA negotiations, but the chicken, egg and turkey boards aren’t letting their guard down as talks begin in mid-August. “The government has been clear in its support for supply management and we are confident it will continue to support and protect supply management during the negotiations […] Read more
Transition programs will assist farmers adapt to an expected influx of European cheese
With the European free trade deal CETA set to launch next month, Ottawa is smoothing out a few wrinkles. The federal government has backed down a bit in a dispute with the European Union over the allocation of new tariff-free cheese imports. It also said it would start accepting applications Aug. 22 from dairy farmers […] Read more
But some farm leaders say more is needed
Growing Forward 2 will transform into the Canadian Agricultural Partnership (CAP) next year with some changes to the existing Business Risk Management (BRM) programs, the federal and provincial agriculture ministers agreed at their annual summer meeting July 19-21. The ministers also agreed to calls from farm groups for a full review of the BRM programs […] Read more
Pork groups and the Canadian Meat Council are working together to avoid any disruption to exports to China in the wake of a residue complaint from that country. China says it has found traces of the growth promoter ractopamine in a shipment of pigs’ feet. “Canadian Pork International, Canadian Pork Council and the Canadian Meat […] Read more
A significant volume of dairy, poultry, eggs and beef was imported into Canada without a permit or paying the appropriate customs duties, hurting both the federal treasury and farmers, says Auditor General Michael Ferguson in his spring report to Parliament. Analyzing figures from Global Affairs Canada and the Canadian Border Services Agency found “authorizations, certificates, […] Read more
Dissatisfaction with existing programs is propelling national farm groups into talking to each other
National farm groups are beginning to gain traction with a united voice calling for better business risk management (BRM) programs for producers. The AgGrowth Coalition (AGC) is a response to national farm leaders recognizing, about a year ago, that the federal and provincial governments were avoiding a serious discussion about overhauling AgriStability and the other […] Read more
Despite a tight timeline the transport minister is still promising action before the summer recess
While offering no details, Transport Minister Marc Garneau says seven key issues for the grain sector will be included in a bill on rail service to be introduced in Parliament this spring. In a letter to the Commons transport committee, Garneau said, “I look forward to presenting this legislation, which will support a more transparent, […] Read more
His constituency in Quebec is also home to many dairy farmers
Trade Minister François Philippe Champagne likes to talk about how the proposed trade deal with Europe will eventually see most Canadian exports to the continent enter duty free. At the same time, his political circumstances make him well aware of rural concerns about the deal’s impacts, he told the Senate foreign affairs committee. In addition […] Read more
Chicken Farmers of Canada says video purported to be of Canadian barns appears to be recycled footage from elsewhere
Chicken Farmers of Canada has hit back at an anti-animal agriculture group’s “outrageous and unsubstantiated claims” about brutal practices on poultry farms across the country. At issue is a video distributed by Mercy for Animals, a U.S.-based group that purports to show abuse on chicken on Canadian farms. “We believe that this video footage isn’t […] Read more
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